Students and Faculty Mentors Recognized at Penn Vet’s 2025 Student Research Day

On March 28, 2025, students and faculty mentors were highlighted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s (Penn Vet) 2025 Student Research Day, an annual symposium at Penn Vet for nearly 20 years. Veterinary students John Bullock, Jasmine He, Elizabeth Taylor, Abigail Hamilton, and Elissa Williams, and VMD-PhD student Tiffany Wu, gave oral presentations of their research. In addition to the oral presentations, over 30 VMD and VMD-PhD students, who have performed research in Penn Vet’s academic departments and research centers, and throughout the University including the Perelman School of Medicine, and at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, shared their findings during the poster session.

This year’s symposium highlighted a burgeoning partnership between Penn Vet and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) in Malawi, East Africa. Launched in January 2024, the Penn Vet and LUANAR partnership fosters educational exchange and research opportunities for students and faculty at both institutions. Two LUANAR students, Comfort Jiya, BVM, and Verson Nambuzi, BVM, presented their work virtually from Malawi. Ashley Vanderbeck, PhD, who spent time last year at LUANAR teaching an immunology course to veterinary students and who is also completing her coursework to earn her VMD, introduced Jiya and Nambuzi during the event. Jiya’s study explored upcycling food waste as alternative feed sources for small Malawi farms; and Nambuzi’s work investigated the Rubella virus’s weak ability to alert the immune system, potentially preventing immune cells from effectively fighting off the virus, allowing it to stay in the body longer.

“Student Research Day is an exhibit of curiosity, innovation, and the pursuit of knowledge. It is an opportunity for our students to showcase their research, refine their ideas, and engage in discussions that push the boundaries of science,” said Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences Michael May, PhD, chair of the organizing committee for Student Research Day. “Events like this not only highlight the incredible talent of our students but also reinforce the critical role of research in addressing real-world, global challenges. I am thrilled that our two LUANAR students also participated; their work is so relevant to the fields of agricultural sustainability and public health.”

The event’s Class of 1966 Endowed Lecture was delivered by Thomas “Tom” Parsons, VMD, PhD, DACAW, the Marie A. Moore Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics, professor of swine production medicine in Penn Vet’s Department of Clinical Studies at New Bolton Center, and director of both the Center for Stewardship Agriculture and Food Security and the Swine Teaching and Research Center at New Bolton Center. Parsons’ talk noted the importance of understanding animal welfare from the animal’s perspective enabling farmers and producers to prioritize husbandry practices that are most important to the animal. Recognized globally for his expertise in swine welfare, Parsons’ research focuses on the study of animal behavior, health, welfare, and applications of technology.

Chosen by a faculty panel through a competitive judging process, the Richard O. Davies Awards for Oral Presenters are:

John Bullock, “Identifying regulators of ribosomal RNA levels in hematopoiesis,” faculty mentors: Vikram Paralkar, MD, and Subin George, MS.

Jasmine He, “Evaluation of a CD19-targeted monoclonal antibody to deplete canine B cells via immunological mechanisms,” faculty mentor: Nicola Mason, BVetMed, PhD, ACVIM.

Elizabeth Taylor, “Lameness in conventional compared to organic swine finishing facilities,” faculty mentor: Meghann Pierdon, VMD, DACAW.

Abigail Hamilton, “Lamellar epithelial cell death and proliferation in naturally occurring supporting limb laminitis,” faculty mentors: Andrew van Eps, BVSc, PhD, DACVIM (Internal Medicine), and Julie Engiles, VMD, DACVP.

Elissa Williams, “FOG^2S657G increases ADRB1 expression, promoting increased contractility and leading to coronary microvascular disease (CMVD),” faculty mentor: Marie Guerraty, MD, PhD.

Tiffany Wu, “Type III collagen alters anabolic and catabolic responses in murine cartilage,” faculty mentors: Susan Volk, VMD, PhD, and Robert Mauck, PhD.

Poster awardees are:

Raegan Petch, “Mutations that positively affect bandavirus glycoprotein function on VSV.”

Audrey Griffith, “Determining the role of type 2 diabetes-associated genes in adipocyte differentiation and function.”

Emmalyn Tavani, “Comparative genome synteny as a tool to identify important copy-number alterations in canine mammary cancer.”

Yasmeen Samar, Poster Slam Category, Most Creative, “Factors influencing flank, tail, and ear lesions in conventionally housed finishing pigs.”

Avery Munster, Poster Slam Category, Most Concise, “Optimization, comparison, and validation of real-time quaking induced conversion of PRP^CWD to detect chronic wasting disease in wild white-tailed deer from frozen, formalin fixed, and formalin fixed paraffin embedded retropharyngeal lymph nodes.”

Lola Uliano, Poster Slam Category, Crowd Favorite, “Studying the effects of collagen coatings on implantable biomaterials and synthetic implants.”

“Penn Vet’s annual student showcase exemplifies the power of research and discovery in shaping our future,” said May. “I am grateful for the organizing committee’s dedication and stewardship of the event, and to the judges for their invaluable time and expertise. Their support helps to foster the next generation of scientists.”